Diagnostic data capture in a computing environment

Abstract

A multithreaded computing environment for capturing diagnostic data includes initiating a trap delay component having a delay threshold in response to a monitor determining that the computing environment is in a predetermined invalid state. The multithreaded computing environment for capturing diagnostic data also includes recording, by a first thread, diagnostic data for the computing environment. The trap delay component delays the step of recording diagnostic data until the monitor determines that the predetermined invalid state has been repeated for at least one of a total count or a period corresponding to a predetermined indicator that it is a state other than a transient state of the computing environment. The transient state corresponds to a transition of the computing environment by one or more other threads from a first valid state to a second valid state.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a multithreaded computing environment for capturing diagnostic data, the method comprising:
 in response to a monitor determining that the computing environment is in a predetermined invalid state, initiating a trap delay component having a delay threshold; and 
 recording, by a first thread, diagnostic data for the computing environment; 
 wherein the trap delay component delays said recording diagnostic data until said monitor determines that said predetermined invalid state has been repeated for at least one of a total count or a period corresponding to a predetermined indicator that it is a state other than a transient state of the computing environment, the transient state corresponding to a transition of the computing environment by one or more other threads from a first valid state to a second valid state. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined invalid state is indicated by the contents of data in a data store of the computing environment. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the contents of data in a data store is corrupt. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the contents of data in a data store is incomplete. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the invalid state is indicated by a sequence of events taking place in the computing environment. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the sequence of events correspond to processing actions taking place in one or more threads in the computing environment. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting said predetermined indicator to a total count of occurrences of said predetermined invalid state. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting said predetermined indicator to a period of time to monitor occurrences of said predetermined invalid state. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus in a multithreaded computing environment for capturing diagnostic data, comprising:
 means responsive to a monitor for determining that the computing environment is in a predetermined invalid state for initiating a trap delay component having a delay threshold; and 
 means for recording, by a first thread, diagnostic data for the computing environment; 
 wherein the trap delay component delays operation of said means for recording diagnostic data until said monitor determines that said predetermined invalid state has been repeated for at least one of a total count or a period corresponding to a predetermined indicator that it is a state other than a transient state of the computing environment, the transient state corresponding to a transition of the computing environment by one or more other threads from a first valid state to a second valid state. 
 
     
     
       10. A computer program product for operating a multithreaded computing environment for capturing diagnostic data, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured for: in response to a monitor determining that the computing environment is in a predetermined invalid state, initiating a trap delay component having a delay threshold; and 
 recording, by a first thread, diagnostic data for the computing environment; 
 wherein the trap delay component delays said recording diagnostic data until said monitor determines that said predetermined invalid state has been repeated for at least one of a total count or a period corresponding to a predetermined indicator that it is a state other than a transient state of the computing environment, the transient state corresponding to a transition of the computing environment by one or more other threads from a first valid state to a second valid state. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined invalid state is indicated by the contents of data in a data store of the computing environment. 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the contents of data in a data store is corrupt. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 11  wherein the contents of data in a data store is incomplete. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the invalid state is indicated by a sequence of events taking place in the computing environment. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein the sequence of events correspond to processing actions taking place in one or more threads in the computing environment. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of  claim 10 , further comprising setting said predetermined indicator to a total count of occurrences of said predetermined invalid state. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product of  claim 10 , further comprising setting said predetermined indicator to a period of time to monitor occurrences of said predetermined invalid state.